May 26, 2022

Hutchinson Municipal Band with something for whole family

Posted May 26, 2022 1:30 PM

NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. β€” The Hutchinson Municipal Band is one of the mainstays throughout almost the city's entire history.

"We continue a great tradition started in 1875," said Charles Johnston with the band. "It's exciting. I look forward to it every summer. I've played in the band actually, since I was in the 9th grade."

If you come to any of the band's concerts on Tuesday evenings starting at 8 p.m. at Carey Park, you'll find something you recognize.

"The concert band always tries to do at least one opening and one closing march," Johnston said. "Concert band is all based on marches. The great march king, Sousa, obviously, we try and incorporate. Then, we use kind of a band standard, which can be anything from Amparito Roca, or you know, some of those classics that you learned in high school. Then, typically pop charts of some sort, or a movie soundtrack or a Broadway show. It just kind of all wraps into that sounds of summer for the band."

Generally, the concert band runs between 40 and 45 players and they rehearse earlier that evening for the performance that night.

"This summer, we're going to have one of our clarinet players, his grandson, who is a very talented clarinetist, will be in eighth grade next year," Johnston said. "Literally, we will go from eighth grade, I think our oldest member, I'm not going to say names, I think is in their 80s, so we go from like 13 up to 80 and I think that's remarkable."

The Hutchinson Municipal Band organization includes a Concert Band, Parade Band, Salt City Jazz Orchestra, Big Band Explosion, Dixieland Combo, Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet, and Woodwind Combo. These groups are available to play at events around Hutchinson.

The 2022 schedule is below:

May 30th – Memorial Day, Memorial Park, 11 a.m.

May 31st – 1st Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

June 7th – 2nd Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

June 14th – 3rd Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

June 21st – 4th Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

June 28th – 5th Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

July 5th – Patriotic Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

July 12th – 1st Salt City Jazz Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

July 19th – 2nd Salt City Jazz Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

July 26th – 3rd Salt City Jazz Concert, Hutchinson Zoo, 8 p.m.

In the event of inclement weather, HMB Band Management will make cancellation announcements on the Band’s Facebook page, and here on Hutch Post.

Call Johnston with questions at (620) 960-5784.